Shoulder grinding and spindle end adjustment mechanism



April 7, 1964 SHOULDER GRINDING Filed Sept. 26, 1962 L. J. CARLIER 3,127,713 AND SPINDLE END ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.i

INVENTOR. LEUNIS J. CARLIER /W- ATTORNEYS April 7, 1964 L. J. CARLIER 3,127,713

SHOULDER GRINDING AND SPINDLE END ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM Filed Sept. 26, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fi g. 3

INVENTOR LEUNIS J. CARLIER BY F 9' ATTORNEYs United States Patent 3,127,713 SHOULDER GRINDING AND SPEJDLE END ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM Leunis .l. Cartier, Oostvoorne, Netherlands, assignor to The Cincinnati Miliing Machine Cu, Cincinnati, Ohio,

a corporation of Gilli? Filed Sept. 26, 1962, Ser. No. 226,332 8 Claims. (Ci. 51165) This invention relates to a precision grinding machine spindle and more particularly to a combined shoulder grinding and spindle end adjustment mechanism therefor.

In one type of grinding operation, after a diameter has been finished to a desired size, the grinding wheel spindle is shifted axially toward an adjacent workpiece shoulder until the side of the grinding wheel has advanced a selected distance for removal of grind stock from the shoulder. The spindle is then moved an equal distance in the reverse direction for return to its initial position in preparation for the next grinding cycle. Since the side face of-the grinding wheel is used as well as the periphery, the side face must be trued and dressed occasionally. Therefore the axial position of the grinding wheel spindle must be adjusted to shift the initial position of the grinding wheel to account for attrition of the side face of the wheel.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a mechanism by which independently obtainable movements of a spindle can be made for each of two separate functions.

Specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide a common mechanism through which separate movements of a grinding wheel spindle may be made for shoulder grinding and for spindle end adjustment to account for grinding wheel wear.

A further object of this invention is to provide a mechanism by which a reference axial position of a spindle may be adjusted without affecting the calibration of the portion of the mechanism by which the spindle may be moved a selected amount away from the adjusted reference position.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention should be readily apparent by reference to the following specification, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, and it is to be understood that any modifications may be made in the exact structural details there shown and described, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from or exceeding the spirit of the invention.

In the preferred form, a grinding wheel spindle is biased to tend to move axially in one direction. A stop member engages the spindle to resist its movement by the bias force. Two mechanisms are included by which the stop member may be swung to cause axial movement of the spindle. Each of the two mechanisms may be operated independently of the other to produce movement of the spindle for a specific purpose without atfecting the reference calibration of the other mechanism. Therefore, in the embodiment to be described in detail, the grinding wheel may be shifted for shoulder grinding and for spindle end adjustment by movement of a common member through the use of two different mechanisms connected therewith but without requiring that a recalibration of one mechanism be made when the other is used.

A clear understanding of the construction and operation of the mechanism can be obtained from the following detailed description with reference to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a grinding machine wheelhead, partly in section.

FIG. 2 is a partial section view on line 22 of FIG. 1.

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FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. 1.

A spindle adjustment and shoulder grinding mechanism is shown in FIG. 1. A spindle it}, on which a grinding wheel 12 is fixed, is supported for rotation in a wheelhead 14. The rear spindle bearing is shown and is comprised of a set of shoes 16, 18 each of which is held in place by a locator pin 26 (only one shown in the section). The locator pins 20 are fixed in a sleeve 22 that is rigidly secured to the side of the wheelhead 14. A sheave 24 is fixed on the end of the spindle 10 and extends back over the sleeve 22 to provide means by which the spindle is rotated in the shoes 16, 18.

The axial position of the spindle it) is determined by the position of a thrust bearing which is comprised of a pair of thrust rings 25, 26 that bear against inclined shoulders 28, 30 of the spindle 10. The rings 25, 26 are received in a housing that includes a forward sleeve 32 to which a rear sleeve 34 is secured. The rings 25, 26 are axially positioned inside the housing 32, 34 by a spacer 36 at one end and a nut 38 at the other end. The nut 38 is threadedly engaged inside the sleeve 34 while the spacer 36 bears directly against the end of the sleeve 32. The housing 32, 34 is axially movable through the sleeve 22 to effect movement of the spindle it which moves axially with the housing 32, 34.

The housing 32, 34 is normally biased to move to the right, as viewed in FIG. 1, by the action of a plunger 40 which engages the left end of the sleeve 32. The plunger 40 is urged rightward by a strong spring 42 that is compressed behind the plunger 40 in a portion 44 of the Wheelhead casting. Movement of the housing :32, 34 to the right is resisted by the action of a lever 46, one end of which engages a flange of the sleeve 32 on a side opposite the plunger 40. The lever 46 is pivotally received at its center over an axle 48. The axle 48 is fixed in a yoke 50. (See also FIGS. 2, 3, and 4.) The other end of the lever 46 engages a stop cam 52 which is rotatably supported in a member 54 that is fixed across the top of the wheelhead 14. Since the lever 46 is freely pivotal on the axle 48, the plunger 40 will freely move the housing 32, 34 and lever 46 until the movement of the lever 46 is stopped by the cam 52. Thus the lever 46 will be held in firm contact with both the sleeve 32 and the cam 52.

The yoke 50 is also pivotally movable, being supported in the top member 54 by a pair of axle pins 56, 58. The axis of rotation of the yoke 56 through the center of the pins 56, 58 is spaced from the axis of rotation of the lever 46 through the center of the axle 48 as is shown by FIG. 4. The yoke 5i) will tend to rotate counterclockwise as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 4 due to the influence of the plunger 40 when the lever 46 is prevented from rotating past the cam 52 since (the axes of rotation are so spaced. Rotation of the yoke 50 in the counter-clockwise direction is prevented beyond a predetermined point by a stop member 69 which is adapted to engage the end of the yoke 50 opposite the axle pins 56, 58. The stop member 60 is rotatable with a knob 62 and is threadedly received through a sleeve 64. The sleeve 64 is fixed through the top member 54. As the knob 62 is rotated, the stop member 60 is caused to shift axially through the sleeve 64 to alter the angular position of the yoke 50 in the wheelhead 14.

The cam 52 which engages the lever 46 is rotatable in the top member 54, being supported therein by a set of anti-friction bearings re, 68. A hand lever 70, FIG. 2, extends through a cover member 72 and is attached to a collar 74. The collar 74 in turn is fixed on the cam 52. Thus the cam 52 may be manually rotated. As shown in FIG. 3, the cam 52 has a rise, indicated at 76, which will force the lever 46 away from the position shown when the cam 52 is rotated clockwise. Movement of the cam 52 in that direction will shift the lower end of the lever 46 to the left, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 4, to force the housing 32, 3 and spindle 10 leftward against the bias of the plunger 4%. To visually display the amount of movement of the spindle 10, a dial indicator 78 having a stem 80 which extends through cover member 72 is mounted on top of the mechanism. The stem 80 engages a cam 82 fixed to the top of the stop cam 52. The cam 82 is designed to cause the indicator 78 to show the amount of movement of the spindle 10 from an initial reference position defined by a predetermined angular position of the lever 46 relative to the yoke 50 and by the angular position of the yoke 50 in the wheelhead 14. A locking screw 84- is threaded through the cover member 72 and may be tightened against the collar 74 to prevent the cam 52 from rotating.

It can be seen, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 4, that as the yoke 50 is pivoted clockwise by advancement of the stop member 60, the lever 46 will be moved with the yoke 50 and equal angular amount since the point of contact of the lever 46 with the cam 52 is on the axis about which the yoke i rotates. In this case then, the yoke 50 and lever 46 are rotating around the same axis since the upper end of the lever 46 cannot change the position of the stop cam 52. The lever 46 will transmit a force to the sleeve 32 which will overcome the bias force from the plunger 40 and move the spindle It leftward. The lever 46 will continue to engage the cam 52 at the axis of rotation of the yoke 50 and the cam 52 will remain as it is. The dial indicator 78 will not change to record the shift of the spindle. The knob 62 may be calibrated to provide a reading of the amount of movement of the spindle 10. This movement may be utilized for spindle end adjustment and compensation for grinding wheel wear in shoulder grinding operations. If the stop member 60 is moved upward, the plunger 40 will cause the yoke to follow it and will move the spindle to the right a corresponding amount. This will adjust the spindle 10 in the opposite direction.

It has been pointed out that rotation of the cam 52 clockwise (as viewed in FIG. 3) away from the position shown will cause the lever 46 to rotate clockwise (viewed in FIGS. 1, 4) to shift the housing 32, 34 and spindle 10 to the left against the force of the plunger 40. The yoke 50 will remain stationary at this time and the entire movement of the spindle 10 away from the position shown will result from the rotation of the lever 46 relative to the yoke 50 by the cam 52. In this case, the dial indicator '78 will display the amount of movement. As the lever 46 is allowed to move back toward the position shown by counterclockwise rotation of the cam 52 (FIG. 3) the spindle will be returned to its reference position. The reciprocal rotation of the cam 52 will produce a feed and return stroke of the spindle 10 which can be utilized for shoulder grinding. The amount of feed is determined by the amount of rotation of the cam 52 and the indicator 78 will provide for repeatability.

As described, the pivotal movement of the yoke 50 does not affect the contact between the lever 46 and cam 52. The shift of the spindle 19 resulting from rotation of the yoke 50 then will not affect the calibration of the indicator 78. This movement may be used for positioning the spindle prior to obtaining feed movement from rotation of the stop cam 52. Likewise, the movement resulting from pivot of the lever 46 by rotation of the cam 52 will not affect the angular position of the yoke 50. Therefore the described mechanism will move the spindle 10 through independently measurable distances for performance of each of two functions initiated by movement of separate members. The reference calibration for the measurement of one functional movement is not affected by movement for the other function.

What is claimed is:

1. In a grinding machine having a wheelhead wherein a rotatable spindle is supported for limited axial move- '21 ment, a mechanism for axially positioning the spindle comprising:

(a) an axially movable housing received in the wheelhead around the spindle,

(b) a thrust bearing received in said housing and adapted to hold said spindle in a selected axial position corresponding to the axial position of said hous- (c) a yoke received in the wheelhead and pivotal on an axis,

(d) a lever received in said yoke for pivotal movement on an axis spaced from the axis of pivot of said yoke, said lever having one end adapted to engage said housing,

(e) bias means to urge said housing into contact with said one end of the lever,

(f) first stop means to hold said lever in a predetermined angular position relative to said yoke,

(g) second stop means to hold said yoke in a selected angular position in said wheelhead, said second stop means and said first stop means thereby determining the axial position of said housing, and

(b) means independently to shift each of said first and second stop means whereby one thereof can be utilized to axially position the spindle for one purpose and the other thereof can be utilized to axially move the spindle for another purpose.

2. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein:

(a) the first stop means is a cam adapted to engage another end of said lever when said lever is in the predetermined angular position relative to said yoke, and

(b) said means to shift each of said first and second stop means includes means to shift said cam to move said lever away from and back to said predetermined angular position thereof relative to said yoke to eifect an axial stroke of the spindle one way and the other from a reference position determined by said second stop means.

3. The mechanism of claim 2 wherein:

(a) said cam is a rotatable cam having a rising surface thereon engaged with said other end of the lever at a point on the axis of rotation of said yoke when the lever is in said predetermined angular position, and

(b) said means to shift said cam includes means to rotate said cam one way and the other.

4. The mechanism of claim 3 wherein:

(a) said second stop means is an axially movable plunger adapted to engage an end of said yoke spaced from the axis of pivot thereof and from the axis of pivot of said lever, and

(b) said means to shift each of said first and second stop means further includes means to axially shift said plunger a selected amount one way and the other to selectively shift the reference position of said spindle, said lever moving around the axis of pivot of said yoke and remaining in said predetermined angular position relative to said yoke when said plunger is axially shifted.

5. The mechanism of claim 2 including:

(a) an indicator mechanically connected to said cam to display the amount of axial movement of the spindle away from the reference position when said lever is moved away from said predetermined angular position relative to said yoke.

6. A mechanism to shift a movable member for one and the other of two independently measurable purposes, the mechanism comprising:

(a) a pivotally supported yoke,

(b) a lever pivotally supported in said yoke on an axis spaced from the axis of pivot to said yoke and having one end adapted to engage the movable member,

(c) a first stop member adapted to engage said yoke,

(d) a second stop member adapted to engage another end of said lever,

(e) means to produce a force constantly to urge the movable member against said one end of the lever, and

(1) means independently to shift each of said first and second stop members to shift the movable member in one direction against said force producing means and to shift each of said stop members in an opposite direction, said force producing means operable to effect a follow-up movement of the movable member with said yoke and lever when each of said stop members is moved in the opposite direction.

7. The mechanism of claim 6 wherein: (a) said lever is pivotally movable in said yoke from a predetermined angular position relative thereto, (b) said second stop member engages said lever at a point on the axis of pivot of said yoke when said lever is in the predetermined angular position relative to said yoke, and

(c) said shifting means includes means to move said second stop member away from and back to a position whereby said lever is stopped in said predetermined angular position relative to said yoke.

8. The mechanism of claim 7 wherein:

(a) said second stop member is a rotatable cam having a surface with a rise adapted to engage said one end of the lever, and

(b) an indicator is mechanically connected to said cam to display the amount of shift of the movable member only when said lever is moved away firom said predetermined angular position relative to said yoke.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. IN A GRINDING MACHINE HAVING A WHEELHEAD WHEREIN A ROTATABLE SPINDLE IS SUPPORTED FOR LIMITED AXIAL MOVEMENT, A MECHANISM FOR AXIALLY POSITIONING THE SPINDLE COMPRISING: (A) AN AXIALLY MOVABLE HOUSING RECEIVED IN THE WHEELHEAD AROUND THE SPINDLE, (B) A THRUST BEARING RECEIVED IN SAID HOUSING AND ADAPTED TO HOLD SAID SPINDLE IN A SELECTED AXIAL POSITION CORRESPONDING TO THE AXIAL POSITION OF SAID HOUSING, (C) A YOKE RECEIVED IN THE WHEELHEAD AND PIVOTAL ON AN AXIS, (D) A LEVER RECEIVED IN SAID YOKE FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ON AN AXIS SPACED FROM THE AXIS OF PIVOT OF SAID YOKE, SAID LEVER HAVING ONE END ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID HOUSING, (E) BIAS MEANS TO URGE SAID HOUSING INTO CONTACT WITH SAID ONE END OF THE LEVER, (F) FIRST STOP MEANS TO HOLD SAID LEVER IN A PREDETERMINED ANGULAR POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID YOKE, (G) SECOND STOP MEANS TO HOLD SAID YOKE IN A SELECTED ANGULAR POSITION IN SAID WHEELHEAD, SAID SECOND STOP MEANS AND SAID FIRST STOP MEANS THEREBY DETERMINING THE AXIAL POSITION OF SAID HOUSING, AND (H) MEANS INDEPENDENTLY TO SHIFT EACH OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND STOP MEANS WHEREBY ONE THEREOF CAN BE UTILIZED TO AXIALLY POSITION THE SPINDLE FOR ONE PURPOSE AND THE OTHER THEREOF CAN BE UTILIZED TO AXIALLY MOVE THE SPINDLE FOR ANOTHER PURPOSE. 